Chelsea director Enzo Marisca says he is excited to face his “professional father” after Manuel Pellegrini managed Real Betis to qualify for the final of the conference.
Midfielder Kirnan DiSprben Hall scored, while Chelsea won 1-0 per night against Djurgarden and 5-1 in a total while the Spanish club needed additional time to overcome Fiorentina 4-3 in the total legs.
The results led to the face of Marisca manager both and worked alongside a member of the Pellegrini team in Malaga before becoming his assistant in West Ham.
Maricca admitted that he was late for the press conference because he was watching Betis winning at an additional time and said about the result: “I am happy to face Betis, especially because of Manuel Pellegrini. He is like my professional father. So we will be very happy.
“I spent four years, two as a player and two of the coach, and the assistant coach. So I know exactly how he thinks about the players, but the most important thing is that he is honest, he is a good person, he always tries to be honest with the player.
“I am trying, personally, I try to learn a lot about him.”
Maricca also enjoyed his success part of his career in his fierce competitors in Betis, where he won the European League and Super Cup prizes, so he is expected to face crowds.
“I played four years with Seville, and this is a major derby against Betis,” he said. “We also won in Derby 1-0, and scored a goal. I know they don't like me, they don't love me.
“I met my wife in Seville, and she is from Seville. My first son was born in Seville. I played with Seville, but there is no doubt that I want to win the final match.”
Chelsea will want to finish the mission in Wroclaw, Poland on May 28, three days after the Premier League season ended.
Marcelsa continued: “For me personally, it is very important, especially because we can give the opportunity for this club and these fans to be the first club in Europe to win all competitions [having previously won the Champions League and Europa League].
“The conference league is a starting point for building a winning mentality, then trying to win more things and more titles.”
